Older Americans Month: May 2009

A
meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in
President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens
Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way to older
people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s
proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to
celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public
recognition.

518 million
Projected 2009 midyear world population 65 and older. Projections indicate the number will increase to 1.6 billion by 2050.
Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb>

Serving Our Nation

9 million
Estimated number of people 65 and older who were military veterans in 2007.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

Jobs

5.8 million
Number of people 65 and older who were in the labor force in 2007.
Projections indicate that by 2016, the number will reach 10.1 million.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/> (Table 568)

Education

74%
Proportion of people 65 and older in 2007 with at least a high school diploma.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

19%
Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2007 who had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

7.3 million
Number of people 66 and older taking adult education courses in 2004-05, comprising about
8 percent of these students.
Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/> (Table 294)

65%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2007 who lived with relatives.
Another 27 percent lived alone, while 5 percent lived in group quarters
and 2 percent in a household with nonrelatives. In addition, 6 percent
lived in their children’s home.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

1.5 million
Number of people 65 and older who lived in nursing facilities in 2007.
These residents comprised 4 percent of all people in this age group.
Source: 2007 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

Homeownership

80%
Percentage of householders 65 and older in 2007 who owned their homes.
This compares with 42 percent for householders at the other end of the
age spectrum — younger than 35.
Source: Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey <http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/hvs/hvs.html>